Pumping apparatus



Sept. 27, 1938. G. E. REAGIN I PUMPING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 27, 1938.

G. E. REAGIN PUMPING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 27, 1938. G. E. REAGlN 2,131,299 I Q PUMPING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 3 Wu C 'WtOD @5025: A. Ema/f a {622% I SAW:

Patented Sept. 27, 1938 H UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE I I I PUMPING APPARATUS George E. Reagin, Tulsa, Okla.

Application May 24, 1937, Serial No. 144,397

11 Claims. (01.103-221) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pumping apparatus. 7 7

One object of theinvention is to provide an improved apparatus for pumping wells which is so arranged that the liquid or fluid within the well tubing above the apparatus may be drained or by-passed around the apparatus at any desired time.

An important object of the invention is to pro- ..m vide an improved pumping apparatus including a standing valve and a pump plunger having a travelling valve, with means for unseating the travelling valve and by-passing liquid around the standing valve to permit bleeding of the well 5 tubing above the apparatus; said means being so constructed as not to interfere with the normal operation of the apparatus.-

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved standing valve structure for a well go pumping apparatus which'includes a by-pass which is normally closed so as to permit normally opening and closing of the standing valve, the by-pass being. arranged to be opened by the lowering of the pump plunger onto the standing 3,5 valve, whereby liquid above the valve may drain thereby.

. Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved plunger for a well pumping apparatus including a tubular mandrel having to the usual travelling valve atits upper end, with an axial stem extending through the mandrel and adapted to engage the valve to hold the same unseated to allow bleeding of the tubing thereabove, said stem normally being out of engage- ,35 ment with the valve, whereby during the normal =u movably mounted in the lower end of a working barrel and having a ball and seat adapted to operate in the usual manner; together with a valve cage enclosing the ball and slidably mounted on the assembly, said cage controlling the uncovering of bleeder parts located below the ball whereby the barrel above the ball may be drained of liquid with the ball in its seated position.

v50 A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and 55 by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

.from the extreme lower end thereof.

exterior surface beveled as shown at l5, and

which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

' Figure 1 .is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section of the upper portion of a working barrel, showing a pump plunger, constructed 5 in accordance with the invention therein,

Figure 2 is a continuation of Figure 1 and showing the lower portion of the working barrel with a standing valve, constructed in accordance with the invention mounted therein,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, and showing the plunger lowered within the working barrel so as to engage the cage of the standing valve,

Figure .4 is a continuation of Figure 3 showing 3 the position of the standing valve assembly when the lower end of the plunger engages said assembly,

Figure 5 is an elevation of the standing valve and its cage in a normal operating position,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the cage lowered so as to permit bleeding of the tubing or barrel above the valve,

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1, and

Figure8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a working barrel of awell pump, whichbarrel has its upper end connected to the lower end of a well 30.

tubing (not shown). The working barrel may be of any desired length and is of course disposed axially in the well in.the usual manner.

The lower end of the barrel is externally screwannular ring I3which is located at the central portion of the bore of .said collar. The ring has its inner surface beveledv as shown at [4 so as to form a seat, whereby a standing valve assembly A may be supported thereon. It is noted that the collar l2 could be eliminated and the seat l4 .formed. as an integral part of the lower end of the working barrel.

However, when the collar I2 5 is employed it is possible to connect the working 7 barrel at a point intermediate the ends of the tubing string instead of suspending the same This might be advantageous in certain instances.

The standing valve assembly A includes a supporting collar or sleeve l5 which has its lower this bevel is complementary to the incline of the IQ of the working barrel l0, whereby the space.

between the collar and the barrel is packed off. A retaining sleeve I9 is threaded onto the upper external end of the collar l5 and has its lower end engaging the packing element |8 to hold the same in position on the collar. The sleeve l9 extends upwardly from the collar l5 and has a bore of I such diameter that an annular space 20 is formed between said sleeve and the outer surface ofthe mandrel l6. An internal annular shoulder 2| is formed near the upper endof the sleeve I9, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. a

The exterior of the mandrel I6 is enlarged at its upper end to form a beveled annular shoulder 22 and this shoulder is located at point above the upper end of the sleeve |9. A valve seat or ring 23 is supported in an annular recess 24 provided in the upper end of the mandrel. A ball 25 is adapted to engage the seat 23 to close the bore of the mandrel and the bore of the collar |E whereby a flow therethrough is prevented. A cylindrical valve cage 26 encloses the ball 25 and has its upper end closed by a cap or head 21 which is threaded thereinto. The cap 21 is provided with an axial opening 28 which is internally screw-threaded so as to receive a suitable lowered tool (not shown); as will be explained. I

The lower end of the valve cage 26 surrounds the upper end of the mandrel I6 and the bore of said cage is formed with an internal annular beveled shoulder 29, the inclination of which is complementary to the annular bevel 22 of the mandrel. The extreme lower end of the cage is spring 39 surrounds the mandrel l6 and is disposed in the annular space 20 between said mandrel and the sleeve l9, and this spring is confined between the lower end of the valve cage 26 and the upper end of the collar 15. The spring normally exerts its-pressure to urge the valve cage 26 upwardly, whereby the annular shoulder 29 of said cage is in engagement with the exterior beveled shoulder 22 on the mandrel. The downward movement of the valve cage 26 is limited by the lower end of said cage striking the internal shoulder 2| within the sleeve 9, and also by an external shoulder or offset 26 on the cage 26 striking the upper end of said sleeve l9. The valve cage 26 is formed with a plurality of vertical slots 3| which extend from a point near the upper end of said cage to a point near the lower end thereof.

When the valve cage is in its raised position with its internal beveled shoulder 29 engages the beveled shoulder 22 'of the mandrel, the lower ends of the vertical slots 3| are located in a plane above the shoulder 22 on the mandrel, as clearly shown in Figure 5. A plurality of inclined ports 32 extend radially through the wall of the mandrel round said mandrel beneath this shoulder. cups 43 are held on the mandrel by a retaining duced portion of the bore of the cap 45. extreme lower end of the guide rod 5|] has a l6 and have their outer ends terminating in the external beveled shoulder 22 of said mandrel. The inner ends of said ports, of course, communicate with the bore of the mandrel l6. Manifestly, when the valve cage is in its raised position, being held so by the coiled spring 30, (Figures 2 and 5), the engagement of the internal shoulder 29 of the cage with the external shoulder 22 of the mandrel covers the ports to prevent a flow therethrough. Since the lower ends of the vertical slots 3| of the valve cage 26 are located in a plane above the ports 32, a flow from the slots to the ports is impossible.

When the valve cage 26 is lowered with relation to the mandrel under tension of the spring 30, the beveled shoulder 29 of said cage will move away from the shoulder 22 of the mandrel, as shown in Figures 4 and 6. This movement of the cage will uncover the ports 32, whereby a flow from the bore of the mandrel into the interior of the cage 26 may occur. At the same time that the shoulder 29 of the cage leaves the shoulder 22, the lower ends of the slots 3| will move downwardlyv into alinement with the ports 32. Therefore any liquid or fluid above the cage 26 can enter the cage through the slots 3| and from this point will flow through the ports 32 and downwardly through the mandrel I6, collar I5 and then to the bottom of the well. Thus, it will be seen that when the cage 26 is in its lowered position, liquid may flow from above the valve assembly A and by-pass the ball 25 which is in its seated position, and may escape downwardly through the mandrel and collar.

. A plunger assembly B is mounted to reciprocate vertically in the working barrel In above the standing valve assembly A; This plunger assembly includes a tubular mandrel 35 which has a valve seat 36 mounted at its upper end. A ball 31 is adapted to engage the seat and is enclosed by a valve cage 38 which is threaded onto the upper end of the mandrel and which holds the valve seat or ring 36 in place. The valve cage has vertical slots 39 therein, whereby when the valve 37 is unseated fluid may flow upwardly through the bore of the mandrel outwardly through the slots 39 and into the barrel In above the plunger. A suitable connecting collar 40 is fastened to the upper end of the cage .39 and this collar in turn is carried by the usual 'pump rod 4|.

The mandrel 35 is externally shouldered at 42 and a plurality of packing cups 43 which are spaced from each other by spacing collars 44 surcap or head 45 which is threaded onto the lower communication between the bore of the cap 45 and the interior of the working barrel H). The

extreme lowerend of the bore 45 is reduced so as to form an internal annular shoulder 41 within the cap.

An elongate stem 48 extends axially through the bore of the mandrel 35 and is formed with a conical flange 49 through its lower end. This flange is arranged to engage the internal shoulder 4| of the cap and a guide rod 50 depends from the flange 49, extending through the re- The collar 5| threaded thereon, and a coiled spring 52 The collar 5| and the underside of the 'cap-45; --The spring 52 exerts its pressure at all timesto' urge the rod 50 and stem 48 downwardly with relation to the mandrel 35 and cap 45, wherebythe annular flange 49 is held seated on the shoulder 41. When said flange is resting on said shoulder, the upper end of the stem 48 is spaced from -the lower end of the ball 31 when the ballis'in its seated position, as shown in Figure 1. An upward movement of the stem 48 would, of course, cause said stem to strike the ball 31-and lift said ball from its seat 36, as shown in Figure 3, and so long as said stem remains in-its raised position, the ball 31 is held in an unseated position. When so unseated, fluid from above the plungerasSembly B may flow downwardly through the slots 39 of the cage 38, and then downwardly through the bore of the mandrel 35, from where it may escape through the radial slots-46 in the -cap member 45 and to the interior of the working barrel ill below the plunger-assemblya In operation, the standing valve assembly A is first lowered into the working barrelby a cable, rod or other lowering device until the beveled portion l5 at the lower end of the supporting collar I5 rests on the beveled seat l4 provided within the collar [2. The annular space between the assembly A and the working barrel is of course packed off by the elastic packing element 8. The lowering device (not shown) is then disconnected from the valve cage 26 of the assembly A and the parts are then in theposition shown in Figure 2 with the ball 25 engaging the seat 23 and the valve cage 26 held in its uppermost position by the coiled spring 30. At this time-theinternal annular beveled shoulder 29 of the cage 26 is in engagement with the external beveled shoulder 22 of the mandrel l6, wherebythe radial ports 32 which extend throughthe mandrelare covered or closed. Therefore, any liquid which may be above the assembly A willact downwardly against the ball 25 through the slots 3| to hold said ball seated. It is noted that the coiled spring 30 is of suificient strength to prevent the liquid above the assembly from moving-the cage downwardly. r I

The plunger assembly B is then attached .to the lower end of the pump rod 4| and is lowered downwardly through the tubing into the working barrel ID. The stroke of the pump plunger, of course, varies in each particularwelland as said rods are reciprocated vertically, the plunger is also reciprocated in the working'barrelabove the standing valve assembly A. The plunger and standing valve normally operate in the usual manner, that is, upon the down stroke of the plunger the valve 31 at the upper end of the mandrel 35 is unseated to permit liquid to flow upwardly through the slots 46 in the cap member 45, then through the bore of the mandrel 35 and finally out through the slots 39 into the interior of the working barrel In above the plunger. As the plunger is moving downwardly, the-pressure of the liquid against the ball 25 of thestanding valve assembly A holds said valveseated, and said valve acts as a check valve to prevent-flow of the liquid downwardly thereby upon said stroke. As the plunger moves on its upstroke, the suction created thereby unseats the ball valve 25 and draws liquid from below the standing valve assembly A, upwardly through said assembly and into the working barrel above the valve 25. During the upward movement of the plunger assembly B, the valve 31 is seated and serves to raise the liquid thereabove'upwardly in the tubing.

movement of the valve 31.

This opera'tionot the valves 25' and 31 is common a in all pumping equipment. 1

the plunger B, the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, that is, thespring 52 is holding the stem-downwardly so that its flange 49 is-engaging the internal seat 41 of the cap member 45;

When itis desired'to relieve the load above the pump plunger assembly B or for any reason it is desired to drain the tubing and working barrel above the plunger or above the standing valve assembly A, it is only necessary to lower the assembly B so that the collar 5| at its lower end strikes the top of the cage 26.. As the weight of the plunger assembly B is placed on the cage 26, said cage is forced downwardly under tension of the spring 38. As this occurs, the internal annular shoulder 29 leaves the external annular;

shoulder 22 0f the mandrel l6, whereby the ports 32 are uncovered and the vertical slots 3| in thev valve cage 23 are moved into registration with said ports. V

When the cage 26 reaches its lowermost limit and can moveno further, the weight, of the assembly and pump rod is'placed entirely on the collar 5i, rod 53 and stem 48. Since the collar 5| is resting against the top of the cage 26, it can undergo no further movement and therefore continued downward movement of the assembly B, causes the mandrel 35 and cap member 45 to move downwardly with relation to the stem under tension of the coiled spring 52. This downward movement of the mandrel with relation to the stem 48,. causes the ball valve 31 to engage the upper end of said stem which halts the As the mandrel continues its downward movement,-the seat 33 leaves the ball 31, whereby the bore of the mandrel is opened.

The'parts are then in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 and the liquid or fluid in the working barrel and tubing above the plunger may flow downwardly through the slots 33, bore of the mandrel 35 and outwardly through the slots Miinto the interior of the working barrel below the plunger assembly B. From this point the liquid or fluid may flow through the slots 3| of 4 the valve cage 23 and then through the ports 32 and downwardly through the mandrel I6 and collar .l 50f the standing valve assembly A. Thus,

it will be seen that all of the liquid in the tubing -above-the pumping apparatus may be drained By lifting downwardly to the bottom of the well. up on the plunger assembly B, the parts will again assume their normal operating positions as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the action being entirely or liquid above either of the assemblies A or B to 1 drain downwardly thereby. The bleeding means is therefore arranged so that under normal conditionsit does not in any way interfere with the operation of the pumping equipment. The size of the bleeder ports 32 in the mandrel iii of the "assembly'A may of course be varied insize and;

it is not necessary that they be inclined as shown in Figure 2. Since it is only necessary to lower 7 the weight of the assembly B and pump rod 4| onto the cage 26 in order to permit bleeding of the tubing, it is evident that such bleeding may be accomplished with a minimum amount of time or trouble. If the pump plunger B should become overloaded, that is, should too much liquid be placed above the plunger, it is only necessary to lower said plunger sufliciently for the collar 5| to strike the cage 25. As explained, this will cause a downward movement of the valve cage 26 and will also halt movement of the stem 48 to permit the mandrel 35 to move downwardly with relation thereto so that the valve 31 is unseated to permit a drain of the liquid from thereabove.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pumping apparatus including, a standing valve assembly supported within a working barrel, a plunger assembly arranged to reciprocate in the barrel above the standing valve assembly and having a travelling valve mounted thereon, both valves being arranged to permit an upward flow of fluid through the assemblies and to prevent a down flow therethrough, and means for unseating the travelling valve and means for bypassing the fluid around the standing valve to allow a downward flow of the fluid through the assemblies.

2. A pumping apparatus including, a standing valve supported in a working barrel, a pump plunger arranged to reciprocate within the barrel above the standing valve and spaced from the standing valve when at the end of its downstroke, a travelling valve mounted on said plunger, said valves being arranged to permit an upward flow and to prevent a downward flow of liquid through the barrel, and means actuated by the engagement of the plunger with the standing valve for unseating the travelling valve and means for bypassing liquid around the standing valve to permit a down flow of fluid through the working barrel.

3. A pumping apparatus including, a standing valve supported in a working barrel, a pump plunger arranged to reciprocate within the barrel above the standing valve and spaced from the standing valve when at the end of its downstroke, a travelling valve mounted on said plunger, said valves being arranged to permit an upward flow and to prevent a downward flow of liquid through the barrel, means actuated by the engagement of the plunger with the standing valve for unseating the travelling valve and means for bypassing liquid around the standing valveto permit a down flow of fluid through the working barre], and means for automatically permitting the travelling valve to seat and for closing the bypass when the plunger is disengaged from the standing valve.

4. A pumping apparatus including, a standing valve assembly supported in a working barrel and comprising a valve for permitting an up flow and preventing a down flow of fluid through the barrel, a pump plunger normally reciprocating in the barrel above the standing valve assembly and arranged to engage said assembly, and means actuated by the engagement of the plunger for by-passing fluid around the valve for permitting a down flow of fluid past said valve.

5. A pumping apparatus including, a standing valve assembly supported in a working barrel and comprising a valve for permitting an up flow and preventing a down flow of fluid through the barrel, a pump plunger normally reciprocating in the barrel above the standing valve assembly and arranged to engage said assembly, means actuated by the engagement of'the plunger for by-passing fluid around the valve for permitting a down flow 5 of fluid past said valve, and means for automatically closingsaid by-pass when the plunger disengages the assembly.

6. A pumping apparatus including, a standing valve assembly supported in a working barrel and comprising a valve for permitting an up flow and preventing a down flow of fluid through the barrel, a pump plunger normally reciprocating in the barrel above the standing valve assembly and arranged to engage said assembly, a travelling 15 valve carried by said plunger and arranged to permit upward flow and prevent a downward flow therethrough, and means actuated by the engagement of the plunger for unseating the travelling valve and means for by-passing fluid around the 20 standing valve to permit a down flow of fluid past the valves.

7. A pumping apparatus including, a standing valve assembly supported in a working barrel and having a tubular mandrel, a valve at the 25 upper end of the mandrel for permitting anupward flow and for preventing a downward flow of liquid through the mandrel, said mandrel having a plurality of by-pass ports located below the valve, a cage slidable on the mandrel and enclosing the valve and normally in a raised position covering the by-pass ports, and a pump plunger reciprocating within the working barrel above the standing valve and arranged to move downwardly to engage the cage and slide the same on the mandrel, whereby the by-pass ports are uncovered and liquid above the standing valve may flow downwardly past the valve and through the mandrel.

8. A pumping apparatus including, a standing '40 valve assembly supported in a working barrel and having a tubular mandrel, a valve at the upper end of the mandrel for permitting an upward flow and for preventing a downward flow of liquid through the mandrel, said mandrel having 345 a plurality of by-pass ports located below the valve, a cage slidable on the mandrel and enclosing the valve and normally in a raised position covering the ,by-pass ports, a pump plunger reciprocating within the working barrel above the standing valve and arranged to move downwardly to engage the cage and slide the same on the mandrel, whereby the by-pass ports are uncovered and liquid above the standing valve may flow downwardly past the valve and through c. the mandrel, a travelling valve carried by the" plunger and arranged to permit an upward flow and prevent a downward flow of liquid through the plunger, and means actuated by the engagement of the plunger with the cage for unseating the travelling valve when the by-pass around the standing valve is opened, whereby liquid above the plunger may drain downwardly therethrough.

9. A pumping apparatus including, a standing valve assembly supported in a working barrelU and having a tubular mandrel, a valve at the upper end of the mandrel for permitting an upward flow and for preventing a downward flow a of liquid through the mandrel, said mandrel having a plurality of by-pass ports located below the valve, a cage slidable on the mandrel and enclosing the valve and normally in a raised position covering the by-pass ports, a pump plunger reciprocating within the working barrel above the standing valve and arranged to move down, 7

wardly to engage the cage and slide the same on the mandrel, whereby the by-pass ports are uncovered and liquid above the standing valve may flow downwardly past the valve and through the mandrel, a travelling valve carried by the plunger and arranged to permit an upward flow and prevent a downward flow of liquid through the plunger, means actuated by the engagement of the plunger with the cage for unseating the travelling valve when the by-pass around the standing valve is opened, whereby liquid above the plunger may drain downwardly therethrough, and means for automatically reseating the travelling valve and closing the by-pass when the plunger disengages the cage.

10. A pumping apparatus including, a standing valve assembly supported in a working barrel and having a tubular mandrel, a valve at the upper end of the mandrel for permitting an upward flow and for preventing a downward flow of liquid through the mandrel, said mandrel having a plurality of by-pass ports located below the valve, a cage slidable on the mandrel and enclosing the valve and normally in a raised position covering the by-pass ports, a pump plunger reciprocating Within the working barrel above the standing valve and arranged to move downwardly to engage the cage and slide the same on the mandrel, whereby the by-pass ports are uncovered and liquid above the standing valve may flow downwardly past the valve and through the mandrel, a travelling valve carried by the plunger and arranged to permit an upward flow and prevent a downward fiow of liquid through the plunger, and a spring-pressed stem actuated by the engagement of the plunger with the cage for unseating the travelling valve when the bypass around the standing valve is opened, whereby liquid above the plunger may drain downwardly therethrough.

11. A pumping apparatus including, a standing valve assembly supported in a working barrel and having a tubular mandrel, a valve at the upper end of the mandrel for permitting an upward flow and for preventing a downward flow of liquid through the mandrel, said mandrel having a plurality of by-pass ports located below the valve, a cage slidable on the mandrel and enclosing the valve, and a coiled spring normally ports to permit a down flow of fluid past theclosed valve.

GEORGE E. R EAGIN. 

